“Lasting, equitable change doesn’t start with having all the answers – it starts with empowering
one another and building relationships that matter.”

Ren An Lim

TOP 30 UNDER 30 HONOUREE | 2026

About

PROFILE SNAPSHOT

AGE: 28

PRONOUNS: He/Him

HOMETOWN: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

ORGANIZATIONS:

Canadian Red Cross
Volunteer Alberta
Sustainable Development Goals Students Association, University of Alberta
Rotary District 5370 Rotaract Council

GLOBAL IMPACT FOCUS (SDGs)

I am most passionate about:

What specific issue(s) are you working to address, and what motivates you to do so?

I am motivated by questions of access and how systems enable or limit people’s ability to reach their potential and participate fully in their communities. My work focuses on building intentional connections that strengthen community capacity and promote equity in health, education, and civic life. Engaging with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has broadened my understanding of the complex, interconnected challenges facing the world today.

I am currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Community Engagement at the University of Alberta, where my academic and applied work explores participatory approaches to research, program design, and evaluation. I am especially interested in how community-led knowledge and lived experience can inform decision-making and help remove systemic barriers in health and social systems.

Alongside my studies, I have provided evaluation and program support for the Queer & Trans Health Collective’s Spectrum program, Alberta’s first queer-affirming drug-checking initiative. This role deepened my understanding of harm reduction, navigating political structures, and the importance of centering community voices in services that impact safety and dignity. Through collaborative evaluation design, I developed tools to help the program strengthen its impact and remain accountable to the communities it serves.

My work in gender justice has also shaped my approach. During the pandemic, I supported On-Site Placement’s gender-equity education initiative by adapting healthy-relationship and violence-prevention resources for youth and nonprofit organizations. This experience reinforced the value of education and community partnerships in advancing SDG 5 (Gender Equality) in practical and accessible ways.

Earlier, I co-founded and led the UN SDG Students Association at the University of Alberta after participating in the ACGC SDG Hub. Through student-led programming, school outreach, and community partnerships, we worked to make the SDGs more tangible and locally relevant, advancing SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). I am especially proud of the partnerships we built across the university, city, and province, which enabled us to help other nonprofits advance the UN SDGs on a broader scale.

Across these projects and SDG initiatives, I am motivated by seeing how people flourish when systems support participation, guided learning, and shared leadership. I am committed to working at the intersection of community engagement, evaluation, and collaboration, where connection enables more just and resilient communities.

What are the ways in which you curate connection?

In every project, I aim to create environments where people feel safe to participate, contribute, and lead together. My approach centers on collaboration, accountability, shared ownership, and active learning with communities.

As President of the UN SDG Students Association, I collaborated with students, faculty, and community partners to co-design programs that encouraged dialogue. Events such as sustainability cafés, creative workshops, and school outreach enabled participants to address complex global issues through conversation, reflection, and local action. These spaces united students, changemakers, and nonprofit partners, each contributing unique perspectives and strengths.

In my community-based work, I prioritize listening to build connections. While supporting an evaluation project this year and a previous gender equity initiative, I worked closely with staff and individuals with lived experience to shape evaluation questions and learning priorities. Listening to community members challenged my assumptions about success and deepened my understanding of accountability.

Taking on different roles and stepping outside my comfort zone has led to new opportunities and connections. As a Canadian Red Cross volunteer, I work with staff and volunteers across departments to welcome community members, respond to inquiries, and assist people in accessing services. These interactions reinforced the importance of compassionate, coordinated support systems and highlighted the interconnectedness of community stakeholders.

I am grateful to those who have supported me, shared life lessons, and imparted their values. It is important to give back and show appreciation whenever possible.

In all settings, I balance my passion for change with a focus on collective needs. I ask questions, remain reflective, and adapt my approach as needed. For me, connection means not only bringing people together but also cultivating relationships that are respectful, reciprocal, and grounded in care.

What role will connection play in your future work?

Connection will remain central to my future work because sustainable change relies on relationships, not only on programs or policies. In development and community engagement, especially amid complex challenges and diverse perspectives, shared connection builds trust, mutual understanding, and collective problem-solving.

Meaningful long-term impact arises when connections among communities, institutions, and individuals are sustained, reciprocal, and grounded in respect for lived experience. In practice, this requires investing time in listening, establishing frameworks, and creating feedback loops that let learning inform action.

As I advance in my academic and professional journey, I aim to work at the intersection of analysis, evaluation, community engagement, and stakeholder collaboration, translating shared knowledge into practice. Whether with nonprofits or public institutions, I view connection as the bridge between evidence and action.

Through my Master’s program, I have developed a deeper appreciation for creating spaces that support dialogue across sectors, generations, and communities. Systems must value relational work, even when it is slower or less visible. When people feel connected to each other and to decision-making, solutions become more relevant, resilient, and inclusive.

Ultimately, I believe connection will drive sustainable development by shifting power, strengthening community capacity, and ensuring progress is shaped by those most affected. Lasting change is possible through connection.